Browsing by Author "Shringarpure, Kalpita"
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Publication A Cross-Sectional Study on Comparison of Health-Seeking Behaviour Among Well-Nourished and Malnourished Children in Vadodara Rural India(Perinatal Society of Nepal (PESON), 2025) Sheth, Margi; Damor, Raman; Vala, Astha; Shringarpure, Kalpita; Patel, NiravAbstract: Introduction: Mothers play a crucial role in identifying health changes in their children, influencing health-seeking behaviours in acute illness and treatment seeking behaviour during growth faltering. Insights of the health-seeking behaviour in local context gives the better result in improving the nutritional status at hospital as well as community level. Therefore, this study was conducted to compare health-seeking behaviors among mothers of well-nourished and malnourished children and to explore treatment-seeking pathways for malnourished children. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among mothers of children aged 6 to 60 months attending anganwadis in Vadodara Rural Taluka. A total of 120 well-nourished and 126 malnourished children (63 with Severe Acute Malnutrition [SAM] and 63 with Moderate Acute Malnutrition [MAM]) were included using a thirty-cluster sampling technique. Mothers were interviewed regarding health-seeking behaviours over the past six months, and pathways to Nutritional Rehabilitation Centre (NRC)/Community Malnutrition Treatment Centre for SAM treatment were assessed. Results: Among well-nourished children, 36% experienced illness, with a median duration of six days; 96% consulted healthcare workers with a median delay of three days. For malnourished children, 53% reported illness, and only 53% sought care, facing a median delay of seven days. Of the 63 SAM children referred to NRC/CMTC, only 22% visited. Major barriers to attendance included the lack of someone to care for other children and no accompanying adult for hospital visits. Conclusions: Mother of well-nourished children demonstrated prompt health-seeking behaviours, while malnourished children faced significant delays and barriers. Nearly half of the referred SAM children to NRC/CMTC did not visit the place, major reason was longer duration of hospital stay.